Snow Closings: The list is growing

We continue to update a list of reported closings because of the approaching storm. We're also including information on events that will continue despite the inclement weather.

WHAT'S OPEN

The Millenium Brass Quintet will perform as scheduled at 8 tonight at the Maxwell Performing Arts Theater at Augusta State University, 2500 Walton Way. The performance is part of the Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society series. They say that the sidewalks will be de-iced, and the auditorium will be comfortable. Pre-concert music by Davidson Fine Arts School ensembles have been canceled, but the quintet will be on hand to meet and greet members of the audience.

WHAT'S NOT

The Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre has called off its production for tonight. They are working to reschedule the production for Thursday.

EVENTS, FACILITIES

Due to the snow forecast for our area, University Health Care System has decided to cancel the Heart Attack and Stroke Survivor Dinner scheduled for today,

Babypalooza will also be on hold due to the expected winter weather. Safe Kids of East Central, which is led by Medical College of Georgia Hospital and Clinics, announced today it was canceling the event that was to be held at the Doubletree Hotel in Augusta on Saturday. The event will be rescheduled for March 27.

The Columbia County JROTC Military Ball scheduled for this evening at the Gordon Club at Fort Gordon has been canceled and will be rescheduled for 6:45 p.m. Feb. 19.

Haydens International Gymnastics Center will be closed and all classes are canceled today and Saturday.

The East Central Health District office in Augusta, the Richmond County Health Department, and its south Augusta branch, will all close at noon today due to weather, Health District Director Ketty Gonzalez announced today.

The Kick, Punt & Throw Down Cancer event scheduled for Saturday at Westside High School has been postponed until Feb. 20. For more information call Zoble Morris at (706) 860-1971.

SCHOOLS CLOSED

Richmond County schools were dismissed early today.

Several Richmond County basketball games that were canceled tonight because of a prediction of snowy weather have been rescheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday.

The games involve the following schools: Glenn Hills High vs. Cross Creek, Josey vs. Westside at Academy of Richmond County, Evans vs. Hephzibah and Grovetown vs. Butler at Glenn Hills High, according to a news release from school system spokesman Louis Svehla.

A game between Academy of Richmond County and Harlem was canceled and isn't being rescheduled.

Meanwhile, a region 3-AAAA qualifier basketball event originally slated for Saturday has been moved to 2 p.m. Monday at Academy of Richmond County. The region 3-AAAA tournament that was supposed to be held Monday also has been moved to 4 p.m. Tuesday at ARC.

OTHER SCHOOLS

Edgefield County schools closed at noon.

McDuffie County schools closed at mid-day.

Jefferson County schools closed for pupils.

Columbia County schools were already closed today.

Aiken County schools dismissed students one hour early. Aiken County public schools are also canceling all athletic and extra-curricular events for this evening. In addition, all afternoon 4K classes are canceled as well.

Tonight's North Augusta High School basketball games against Aiken High School have been postponed until Saturday afternoon due to the predicted snowfall, North Augusta girls basketball coach Jared Adamson said.

The Region 5-AAAA games will be played Saturday at North Augusta starting with the girls game at 3 p.m.

The University of South Carolina Aiken will begin no activities after 3 p.m. today, to include classes, clinical experiences, meetings, or off-campus groups gathering on campus. Activities already under way at 3 p.m. may continue until 5 p.m., but participants should be notified of inclement conditions in order for them to make the best assessment of their options for safe travel away from campus.

Aiken Technical College will close at 3 p.m. today. This evening's basketball game against Brunswick Community College has been canceled.

ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here and for
following agreed-upon rules of civility. Posts and
comments do not reflect the views of this site. Posts and comments are
automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some
comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules,
click the "Flag as offensive" link below the comment.

It's a total waste of money and time for RC schools to remain open for four hours, then send everybody home. God, I hope Bedden gets that job in Texas so we can get somebody with a brain and some intestinal fortitude. Nothing will get done today, students will be obsessed with the snow, thinking about nothing but counting the hours (moreso than usual). Dumb, Bedden, just plain dumb. I expect nothing less from you.

I wonder why it took them so long to make a decision? Surely they have a policy on severe winter weather operations? I tried to go to RCBOE and RCSS and surprise, surprise, surprise there was no mention of closings. You would think they would have a posting by our high paid mouth piece, but I guess when the boss is out filling up his resume, no one is in charge of keeping the parents (who they complain about all the time) informed as to what is happening. Yeah great planning on someones part, who ever is in charge.

Don't forget Bedden is out of town this week. He would not have sent the students home. I understand being cautious but serving lunch at 10am is a bit odd. The buses can get through any slush that will be on the roads just fine.

Most likely Jay.
We just got the call from Aiken that students are being released an hour early. WTH?? It isn't even raining, much less snow.
This is ridiculous! Between the regular days off, then furlough days, now over some snow that won't affect school kids, when exactly are they getting an education?

I guess Bedden forgot his crystal ball when he packed for his trip. Seriously people, the WEATHER folks can't tell you for sure what is going to happen and they have a friggin' degree in this field, why do you expect the superintendent to be able predict what is going to happen? If they had closed schools for the day, you'd be complaining about an entire day wasted. If they leave the schools open, then there might be weather problems on bridges and in the outlying areas. Just be happy we have SNOW. It's a novelty for most of us. Try to ENJOY it.

I wouldn't want my child on a bus if the roads are getting bad. People here don't know how to drive in the snow and ice (me included) and go crazy as soon as they see the first few flurries. Maybe not the best decision but better safe than sorry.

We'll be enjoying it EF, no worries there. It is just the ludicricy (soo misspelled) of it all. They get so many days off as it is. Making call's like this, is EXACTLY why the south gets hammered on so much, others think it hilarious at the going overboard in situations like this.

I agree with you Sueboo, it is better to be safe than sorry. Buses running from my oldest's high school (Strom) takes two hours one way to arrive. If all goes well the bus would pass by here at 5:20 but we don't know for certain what the weather will be doing at that time. I'm much happier that the school's are opting to side with caution.

I was in Ohio in late August one year. The high was getting up to a sweltering 92 degrees. There were "heat warning advisories" and people were urged to stay inside unless necessary. My wife and I just laughed at the situation. We could hammer the folks in the north about the oppressive 92 degrees just as much as they want to hammer us about a paltry inch of snow. All depends on your perspective. Maybe we just shouldn't hammer each other at all?

I'm from Iowa. My hometown has been buried by repeated blizzards, and have set new records for the number of days (60+) since they've seen the ground. I think you're being overly critical Pommom. I'm not going out tonight either... because people down here really aren't experienced driving in this kind of weather, and no one's prepared. As for snow days - Des Moines, Iowa is considering Saturday school. They've had a record number of snow days - and nobody wants school to go halfway through June. So, while for those of us from places with tons of plows, trucks full of sand and salt, and years of experience driving through slush, ice, and snow aren't too worried... most of us don't begrudge southerners either their excitement or worry. Our kids have come to react the same way. :)